Lalmonirhat, Sept. 2 -- For generations jute has been known as the "golden fibre" of Bangladesh, offering farmers a cash crop that can thrive even on land where other crops struggle.

But for farmers in Lalmonirhat, that golden promise is increasingly turning into a nightmare.

This season, many farmers in the district have failed to get the expected yield of jute and are now worried that falling or uncertain market prices could leave them counting losses yet again.

Unless jute prices rise in line with production costs, farmers fear they will suffer another year of losses, further discouraging them from cultivating the crop next season.

Jute has been widely cultivated this year in the char areas and villages of Aditmari, Kaliganj, Hatib...